Combined stepladder-cart



March 4, 1969 A. FIEDLER 3,430,972

COMBINED STEPLADDER- CART Filed Aug. 11. 1966 INVENTOR.

ARM/N F/EDLER ATTYS.

United States Patent 1 Claim This invention relates to stepladders and handcarts and, more particularly, to a combined stepladder-cart.

The combined stepladder-cart of the present invention can be used as a footstool type stepladder of relatively short length, as a regular ladder having a length substantially twice the length of a footstool type stepladder, and as a handcart for transporting bulky and heavy objects such as garbage cans and the like. It can also be manufactured in various sizes. It is also adapted to be collapsed into a relatively compact unit so that it can be easily stored in a small space. Accordingly, it has considerable utility around the home, and particularly, to individuals who live in apartments, duplex units and the like where storage space is at a premium.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved combined stepladder-carts.

Another object is to provide improved stepladder-carts which can be collapsed into a relatively compact unit, for easy storage in small spaces.

Still another object is to provide improved stepladdercarts which can be used as a footstool type stepladder, as a regular ladder having a length substantially twice the length of the footstool ladder, and as a handcart for transporting heavy objects.

A still further object is to provide stepladder-carts which can be inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The above objectives are accomplished with a stepladder-cart including a stepladder having a pair of support legs pivotally aflixed to one end of it and a wheeled platform pivotally aflixed to its other end. The support legs can be pivoted to extend upwardly in line with the stepladder to effectively approximately double its length, and the platform pivots about the foot, or opposite end, of the stepladder to form a handcart.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claim.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined stepladdercart exemplary of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view illustrating the manner in which the stepladder-cart is collapsed into a compact unit for storage;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the stepladder-cart is folded to form a handcart; and

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the manner in which the stepladder-cart is folded to form a regular stepladder of extended length.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing, a combined stepladdercart exemplary of the invention is illustrated including a stepladder 12 having a pair of support legs 14 and 16 pivotally affixed to its top end and a wheeled platform 18 pivotally afiixed to its opposite, or foot, end. The step- Patented Mar. 4, 1969 "Ice ladder 12 is constructed of two parallel spaced-apart step supports 19 and 20 between which are atfixedly secured steps 22. Only two steps are illustrated, however, it is apparent that other steps can be provided so as to lengthen the stepladder, if desired. Fixedly secured across the tops of the step supports 19 and 20, is a platform-step 24 of relatively sturdy construction.

The support legs 14 and 16 are preferably substantially the same size as the step supports 19 and 20, and have steps 27 affixed between them, in parallel spaced relation, for reasons set forth below. They may be of different size, however, and may be retained in parallel spaced relation by means of a pair of crisscrossed braces, if desired. A platform-step 30 is aflixed across the upper ends of the support legs 14 and 16, and has angled surfaces 32 on each of its opposite ends which are adapted to engage the top surface 25 of the platform-step 24 to fixedly position the support legs 14 and 16 in alignment with the stepladder 12, when manipulated in the fashion described below.

The support legs 14 and 16 are pivotally affixed to the stepladder 12, by means of a hinge 34 affixed to the platform-steps 24 and 30. The hinge 34 is preferably a pianotype hinge which extends across the width of the step ladder-cart, however, two or more hinges can be used.

The wheeled platform 18 includes a flat plate 36 which is preferably of a sturdy metal sheet material. Fixedly secured to the opposite sides of the flat plate 36 at its one end are a pair of plate supports 38 and 40 which are, in turn, pivotally affixed to the foot end of the step supports 19 and 20, respectively, by means of pivot pins 41. An axle 42 is atfixed beneath the plate 36 and has wheels 44 and 46 rotatably affixed to its opposite ends. The axle 42 is aflixed to the plate 36 in a position such that the wheels 44 and 46 are aligned along side of and below the ends of the support legs 14 and 16 when the platform 18 is pivoted to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3. The end of the plate 36 is adapted to abut against the edges of the support legs 14 and 16 when the platform 18 is in its inoperative position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The stepladder-cart 10 forms a three-step (including the platform-step 24) when the support legs 14 and 16 are pivotally folded at the hinge 34 to extend downwardly in the angularly disposed position, illustrated in FIG. 1. A pair of locking braces 50 and 52 are pivotally aflixed by means of pivot pins 54 to the step supports 19 and 20, respectively, and have slots 56 formed in their opposite ends which are adapted to lockingly engage locking pins 58 affixed to the sides of the support legs 14 and 16.

The platform 18 pivots about the pivot pins 41 so that its end abuts against the support legs 14 and 16 to retain the platform in its ino erative position.

If it is desired to extend the length of the stepladder 12 to provide a regular ladder of substantially twice the length of the stepladder 12, the locking braces 50 and 52 are pivoted to release the locking pins 58 from the slots 56 and the support legs 14 and 16 are pivoted about the hinge 34 until the angular surface 32 of the platform-step 30 abuts against the top surface 25 of the platform step 24. The locking braces 50 and 52 are then pivoted to lockingly engage a pair of locking pins 60 afiixed to the support legs 14 and 16, to lock the ladder in extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Fastener means (not shown), such as a hook and eye or the like, can be afiixed to the stepladder 12 and to the platform 18, so that the platform 18 can be held in a convenient, out-of-the-way position when the length is extended, if desired.

The stepladder-cart 10 may be used as a handcart by pivoting the support legs 14 and 16, in the manner described above, to extend the length of the stepladder 12. This action will provide a relatively long back for the handcart, against which the articles that are to be transported can lean or rest. The platform 18 is then positioned so that its surface at the end adjacent the stepladder abuts against the under surface of the step supports 19 and 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3, or against surface 70 if plate supports 38 and 40 are shortened, to provide support for the platform and to retain it in a position to permit the wheels 44 and 46 to engage and roll on the floor or ground. Alternatively, if the stepladder 12 and the support legs 14 and 16 are of relatively long length, for example, 3 or 4 feet long, the support legs 14 and 16 can be folded against the stepladder 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the platform 18 pivoted to its operative position, illustrated in FIG. 4. The carrying surface of the platform 18 is reduced in size, to some degree, when used in this fashion, however, it is still acceptable for most jobs. Also, it is apparent that the support legs 14 and 16 form the back for the handcart when it is folded, as described.

In FIG. 2, the stepladder-cart 10 is illustrated folded for storage. It can be seen that the platform 18 is folded and retained between the stepladder 12 and the support legs 14 and 16, and that the latter are folded in substantially abutting relationship with the stepladder 12, so that a relative compact unit is provided. If desired, platform 18 may be of shorter length to merely extend rearwardly in a horizontal fashion.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claim is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined stepladder-cart comprising: a stepladder having a plurality of steps affixed to a pair of step supports and a platform-step affixed across the upper ends of said pair of step supports, a pair of support legs having a platform-step afiixed across the upper ends thereof and a plurality of steps aflixed between them in spaced relation, hinge means affixed to said platform-steps hingedly fixing said stepladder and said support legs together and in a fashion such that said support legs can be pivoted to extend the length of said stepladder, said platform-step aflixed across the upper ends of said support legs having a continuous sloped surface which engages the upper surface of said platform-step affixed across the upper ends of said step supports for providing additional strength and for retaining said stepladder and said support legs in extended alignment, and a wheeled platform pivotally aflixed to the lower end of said step supports and positioned between said stepladder and said support legs, said platform being pivotal and the end thereof being engageable with the lower surfaces of said step supports to positionably support said wheeled platform in a substantially perpendicular position with respect to said stepladder so as to form a handcart, locking braces having locking slots therein pivotally afiixed to respective ones of said step supports and locking pins affixed to respective ones of said support legs for locking said support legs in a fixed position with respect to said stepladder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 130,549 8/1872 Valley 18224 1,423,366 7/1922 Snoor 280-30 XR 2,299,584 10/ 1942 Low 182-24 3,104,889 9/1963 Branch 280-30 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

L. D. MORRIS, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

1. A COMBINED STEPLADDER-CART COMPRISING: A STEPLADDER HAVING A PLURALITY OF STEPS AFFIXED TO A PAIR OF STEP SUPPORTS AND A PLATFORM-STEP AFFIXED ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID PAIR OF STEP SUPPORTS, A PAIR OF SUPPORT LEGS HAVING A PLATFORM-STEP AFFIXED ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF AND A PLURALITY OF STEPS AFFIXED BETWEEN THEM IN SPACED RELATION, HINGE MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID PLATFORM-STEPS HINGEDLY FIXING SAID STEPLADDER AND SAID SUPPORT LEGS TOGETHER AND IN A FASHION SUCH THAT SAID SUPPORT LEGS CAN BE PIVOTED TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF SAID STEPLADDER, SAID PLATFORM-STEP AFFIXED ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT LEGS HAVING A CONTINUOUS SLOPED SURFACE WHICH ENGAGES THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PLATFORM-STEP AFFIXED ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID STEP SUPPORTS FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL STRENGTH AND FOR RETAINING SAID STEPLADDER AND SAID SUP- 